Description:

Dorsal spines: 8; Dorsal rays: 9; Anal spines: 2; Anal rays: 8.

Medium-sized Cardinalfish with long broad caudal peduncle. Suborbital bones with spines. Large scales. 

Colour. Light to reddish brown with dusky scale margins. Usually with a broad dark mid-lateral stripe that fades on the caudal peduncle. Yellow leading 
edge on first dorsal fin. Black spot at base of caudal fin which may fade in adults. Individuals develop greenish to bluish iridescence at night. Juveniles 
have a yellowish head and abdomen.

Maturity: Unknown. Max length : 15.5 cm TL.  
 

Inhabits lagoon and seaward reefs (depth 3-45 m). Benthopelagic. Solitary. Feeds at night on small benthic and free-swimming crustaceans. Distinct pairing 
during courtship and spawning. Mouthbrooders.

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is not subject to the artisanal fishery.
 

Photo courtesy Eleanor Brighton and Chris Mason-Parker (c) 2022 Blue Safari Seychelles/Marine Conservation Society, Seychelles. Photograph taken at Alphonse group 2022.
 

Bray, D.J. (2020). Pristiapogon kallopterus in Fishes of Australia, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/3480 (07/09/22).
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. (Eds.) (2022). FishBase. https://www.fishbase.in/summary/5758 (07/09/22). 
Smith, M. & Heemstra, P. (Eds.) (1999). Smiths’ Sea Fishes Edition 6. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 10.1007/978-3-642-82858-4

Nevill, J.E.G., Brighton, E. & Mason-Parker, C. (2022). Pristiapogon kallopterus, Iridescent cardinalfish. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/pristiapogon-kallopterus-bleeker-1856/